asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the request by the French Sisters of Charity in Coolarne Convent, Turloughmore, County Galway, to provide a social home for old people in the convent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Old People's Home.
17.
This is a matter for the Western Health Board which are the authority concerned for welfare home facilities in the area. That board, having considered the request, have concluded that because of its location the school is not suitable for use as a welfare home for the aged. I have no reason to disagree with that conclusion.
Is the Minister aware that when the Sisters made a request to the Western Health Board and to the Minister to turn this former school into a home for mentally handicapped children, the conditions laid down were such that the Sisters could not comply with them? The Minister would agree to having only ten mentally handicapped children in the school and he completely upset the plans of the Sisters. Will he now give them fair play and arrange that they can turn this into an old people's home?
I understand the board are looking into the geriatric needs of the area and account will be taken of the Sisters' concern.
I hope they will be treated with a little more consideration than on the last occasion.
When will this be considered and when will a conclusion be reached?
I cannot say. The welfare programme is going on all over the country and the health boards are looking into the needs of their respective areas. There are some 25 on the stocks at the moment.
We are not talking about the entire country but about a specific case.
I am sure the health board have full knowledge of the needs of the area.
The Minister should shake some of the dust from the files.